Pennsylvania reports 8 measles cases; 6 are in Lancaster County

NOW IN CUSTODY, WHERE POLICE SAY THEY FOUND THE SUSPECT. WGAL NEWS 8 TODAY STARTS NOW. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, EVERYONE. IT IS 430 AND I’M REGINA ON. I’M KATELYN SMITH. IT’S FRIDAY THE 13TH YOU GUYS, AND TOMORROW’S VALENTINE’S DAY. BETTER YET, AND I HEAR A WARM-UP IS ON THE WAY FOR TOMORROW. WHAT’S IN STORE FOR TODAY, MIKE? YEAH, SO WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING THAT WARMTH. LIKE YOU SAID TOMORROW. KATELYN TODAY. NOT SO MUCH, BUT NOT TOO BAD. I MEAN, SUNSHINE COMES OUT. THAT’S NICE. SO THIS WILL BE SUNNY HERE. SO THAT’LL BE GOOD NEWS. PLENTY OF SUNSHINE TODAY. WARMER WEATHER TOMORROW. LIKE I SAID, WITH HIGHS GETTING INTO THE MID 40S. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE MID JANUARY. AND THEN WE ARE OF COURSE WATCHING SUNDAY SYSTEM AS WELL. DOES LOOK LIKE THAT RAIN. SNOW STAYS MAINLY SOUTH OF THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE AND WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT MANY ISSUES WITH THAT. BUT HERSHEY RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE A LIGHT BREEZE RIGHT NOW ON THE CAMERA. CURRENT CONDITIONS IN HERSHEY. AT THE MOMENT, 26 DEGREES FEELS LIKE 15, THOUGH BECAUSE OF THAT NORTHWEST WIND AROUND 13MPH. SO THE AIR TEMPERATURES YOU STEP OUTSIDE THIS MORNING IN THE MID 20S. FOR MOST OF US, IT’S 26 IN HARRISBURG, 22 IN LANCASTER AND 24 IN YORK, AS WELL AS CHAMBERSBURG AND 27 IN GETTYSBURG AS WELL AS CARLISLE. WINDS ARE LIGHT OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AT THE MOMENT HERE, AS WE LOOK AT STORM TEAM LIVE RADAR NETWORK, WE ARE QUIET. SO WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FOR YOUR 12 HOUR FORECAST IS FOR TEMPERATURES TODAY TO GET UP TO CLOSER TO AROUND THE 30S AS WE GO THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON HERE. AND HERE’S A LOOK AT THE WEEKEND PLANNER. WE’LL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS COMING UP IN JUST A LITTLE BIT GUYS. ALL RIGHT MIKE THANK YOU. THIS MORNING THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD HAS RELEASED NEW VIDEO. THIS IS PART OF ITS FINAL REPORT OF A PLANE CRASH THAT HAPPENED IN MANHEIM TOWNSHIP IN LANCASTER COUNTY NEARLY A YEAR AGO. IT WAS MARCH 9TH OF LAST YEAR WHEN TWO PEOPLE WERE HURT IN THAT PLANE CRASH AT THE BRETHREN VILLAGE. THE NTSB SAYS THE CRASH LIKELY HAPPENED BECAUSE THE PLANE’S CABIN DOOR OPENED AT TAKEOFF. THAT DISTRACTED THE PILOT, MATT WHITE, AND HE WASN’T ABLE TO MAINTAIN ENOUGH SPEED TO KEEP THAT PLANE FLYING. NOW, A PASSENGER TOLD THE NTSB THAT WHITE REQUESTED TO LAND BACK AT THE AIRPORT AND THAT THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WAS TRYING TO HOLD THAT DOOR SHUT BEFORE THE PLANE WENT DOWN. THE NTSB REPORT ALSO SAYS THE PLANE WAS LOADED ABOUT 500 POUNDS OVER WHAT IT’S ALLOWED TO BE AT TAKEOFF, WHICH ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THAT CRASH. THAT DETAIL IS NEW IN THIS REPORT. YOU CAN READ THE NTSB REPORT ON WGAL.COM. POLICE HAVE CHARGED WITH TWO SEPARATE SHOOTINGS IS NOW IN CUSTODY. POLICE SAY 19 YEAR-OLD NASIR AMMAN FIRED SHOTS IN THE AREA OF WEST WASHINGTON STREET AND BUTTERNUT LANE IN CHAMBERSBURG, FRANKLIN COUNTY. THAT WAS ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON, ACCORDING TO CHARGING DOCUMENTS. THEY FOUND BULLET CASINGS AND FRAGMENTS AT THE FRANKLIN COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY. THE DOCUMENTS SAY STATE POLICE IN CARLISLE SPOTTED A MAN AND TRIED TO STOP HIM, BUT HE TOOK OFF. INVESTIGATORS SAY HARRISBURG POLICE SPOTTED HIM AND ARRESTED HIM AT 16TH AND STATE STREETS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, AND CARLISLE POLICE ALSO ANNOUNCED CHARGES AGAINST HIM FOR FIRING SHOTS INTO MULTIPLE HOUSES AND PARKED VEHICLES ON EAST LOWTHER STREET IN DECEMBER OF 2024. INVESTIGATORS NOW SAY WE MAY NEVER KNOW WHAT STARTED THAT FIRE THAT DESTROYED A HOME IN ADAMS COUNTY. WE FIRST BROUGHT YOU THIS AS BREAKING NEWS YESTERDAY MORNING. FIREFIGHTERS SAY THAT FIRE STARTED IN THE BACK OF THE HOME ON COUNTY LINE ROAD IN LATIMORE TOWNSHIP. IT WAS AROUND 515 YESTERDAY MORNING. YOU SEE THE FLAMES. SHORTLY AFTER THAT FIRE STARTED, A STATE POLICE FIRE MARSHAL SAYS THERE IS TOO MUCH DAMAGE NOW, THOUGH TO DETERMINE A CAUSE. NO ONE WAS HOME AT THE TIME OF THAT FIRE. FIREFIGHTERS SAY THE WIND DID ADD TO SPREADING THOSE FLAMES, AND THAT CREWS ALSO HAD TO TRUCK IN WATER BECAUSE OF FROZEN PONDS AND CREEKS. WITH THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES, WE’RE HAVING ALL OF OUR WATER SOURCES. RURAL WATER SUPPLY IS PONDS AND CREEKS. THEY’RE ALL FROZE OVER AT THIS POINT IN TIME. SO WE’VE GOT TO RELY ON HYDRANTS AND IN THE RURAL SETTING, HYDRANTS ARE IN MORE POPULATED AREAS. SO WE’RE GOING BACK TO THE BOROUGH OR WE’RE GOING TO THE SCHOOL UP THE STREET, WHICH IS FOUR MILES AWAY. SO YOU HAVE TO DISPATCH MORE TANKERS TO ACCOMMODATE THAT MILEAGE DIFFERENCE. AND DEMOLISHED WHAT WAS LEFT OF THAT HOME TO TRY TO STOP ANYONE FROM GETTING HURT, OR A POSSIBLE COLLAPSE OF THE REMAINING STRUCTURE. WE HAVE NEW INFORMATION ON A ROWHOME FIRE IN LANCASTER THAT FIREFIGHTERS SAY WAS CAUSED BY AN E-BIKE. THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OF GREATER PENNSYLVANIA NOW SAYS IT HELPED ONE PERSON. CREWS SAY IT STARTED AROUND 130 ON TUESDAY MORNING ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE HOME ON WEST KING STREET, NEAR SOUTH MARY STREET, AND DAMAGED SEVERAL HOMES. THEY SAY ONE PERSON WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, BUT STILL NO WORD ON HOW THAT PERSON IS DOING THIS MORNING. THEY ALSO SAY THE SMOKE DETECTORS DID THEIR JOB AND WOKE UP THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE. IT’S 435 IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN LANCASTER IS NOW REVIEWING ITS POLICIES. AFTER A BOY WANDERED AWAY FROM THAT SCHOOL AND WAS FOUND ON THE STREET. DEONTAY RIVERA SAYS THAT HE FOUND THAT CHILD ON TUESDAY IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH NO COAT ON, LOOKING CONFUSED AND COLD. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LANCASTER SAYS THE BOY RAN AWAY FROM FULTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH IS ABOUT A SIX MILE WALK FROM WHERE RIVERA SAYS HE FOUND THE BOY. IT WAS PRETTY STRANGE BECAUSE OF HOW HE WAS, YOU KNOW, RUNNING IN THE CENTER OF THE STREET, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WITHOUT A COAT ON, WITH THE LEASH, IT JUST WOULD LOOK ODD TO ME WHEN I SCOOPED HIM UP LIKE THIS. HE JUST, LIKE, HUGGED ME AND, LIKE, YOU COULD SEE HIS TEARS. THE SCHOOL IS A SIX MINUTE WALK FROM WHERE THE BOY WAS FOUND. WANT TO MAKE SURE I CORRECT THAT? THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LANCASTER SAYS IT CANNOT COMMENT BECAUSE OF CHILD PRIVACY LAWS, BUT DID CONFIRM A REPORTED WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES. THE DISTRICT ALSO SENT AN EMAIL TO THE PARENTS OF THE STUDENTS WITH CHILDREN WHO RECEIVED SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, SAYING THE DISTRICT IS DOING A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF PROCEDURES AND ALSO INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISION FOLLOWING WHAT HAPPENED. THAT ALSO INCLUDES LOOKING AT SAFETY PLANS, TALKING TO STAFF MEMBERS AND LOOKING INTO BUILDING SAFETY MEASURES. NEW TONIGHT THE SHIPPENSBURG AREA. NEW THIS MORNING THE SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CONFIRMS A STUDENT BROUGHT A KNIFE TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ON THURSDAY, BUT SAYS THERE WAS NEVER A THREAT TO STUDENTS OR STAFF. IN A LETTER TO FAMILIES, PRINCIPAL JEREMY BARNES SAYS TWO STUDENTS REPORTED THAT THEIR CLASSMATE HAD A KNIFE. HE SAYS THAT STUDENT WAS TAKEN AND PULLED FROM THE CLASS AND ADMITTED TO HAVING THE KNIFE. THE DISTRICT SAYS SHIPPENSBURG BOROUGH POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCHOOL. THE DISTRICT ALSO SAYS IT IS FOLLOWING PROTOCOLS AND WANTS TO REASSURE FAMILIES THAT SCHOOL REMAINS SAFE. THE HEMPFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT IN LANCASTER COUNTY WILL NO LONGER WORK WITH THE INDEPENDENCE LAW CENTER, WHICH IS A RELIGIOUS RIGHTS FIRM THAT MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH. DURING THIS WEEK’S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD, WHICH HAS A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, VOTED TO CUT TIES WITH THAT ORGANIZATION. THE VOTE WAS 6 TO 3. THE REPUBLICANS ON THE BOARD SHARED THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT, THOUGH, WITH THAT VOTE. JUSTIN WOHLGEMUTH TOLD US THAT ELIMINATING THE PARTNERSHIP IS PART OF A TROUBLING PATTERN UNDER THE CURRENT BOARD PRESIDENT AND THAT, QUOTE, THIS BOARD APPEARS INTENT ON ELIMINATING IDEAS, PERSPECTIVES OR PARTNERS THAT DO NOT ALIGN WITH THEIR PERSONAL VIEWPOINTS. GRANT KEENER ECHOED THAT, SAYING THE BOARD SHOULD CONSIDER DIVERSE VIEWPOINTS WHEN MAKING DECISIONS FOR HEMPFIELD. THE FORMER WILLIAM PENN HIGH SCHOOL IN HARRISBURG HAS STOOD FOR A CENTURY NEAR ITALIAN LAKE, BUT ITS DAYS COULD BE NUMBERED. THE DISTRICT’S SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THE SCHOOL SHOULD BE DEMOLISHED AND USED FOR ATHLETIC FIELDS. ALUMNI AND THOSE WITH TIES TO THE SCHOOL SAY IT’S TOUGH TO CONSIDER DEMOLISHING THIS HARRISBURG LANDMARK. IT’S A SAFER OPTION. ELIMINATE MAJOR UNINSURED LIABILITY. FOR THE MOST PART, IT PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY, AGAIN, TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. MY COUSIN WENT THERE, TOO. IT’S BEEN A LANDMARK IN THE CITY FOR FOREVER, AND THE COST OF DEMOLITION IS MORE THAN $5 MILLION. THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL VOTE TO ACCEPT A TASK FORCE REPORT ON WHAT TO DO WITH THE BUILDING LATER ON THIS MONTH. A HEADS UP FOR DRIVERS IN YORK. CREWS ARE GOING TO BE CLOSING PART OF EAST PHILADELPHIA STREET TODAY. THIS IS SO YORK COUNTY CAN REPLACE THE HVAC COOLING TOWER ON THE ROOF OF THE JUDICIAL CENTER ON NORTH GEORGE STREET. THE CLOSURE ON EAST PHILADELPHIA STREET IS FROM DUKE TO GEORGE STREET. IT STARTS AT FIVE AND IS SET TO CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. AND ROUTE SEVEN, 72 LOCUST STREET AND WEST EARL TOWNSHIP, LANCASTER IS OPEN AGAIN. LOOK AT THAT PATCHWORK THERE. A LARGE SINKHOLE THERE OPENED UP LAST WEEK AND I

Pennsylvania reports 8 measles cases; 6 are in Lancaster County

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Updated: 12:21 PM EST Feb 13, 2026

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Eight measles cases have been reported in Pennsylvania so far this year, six of which are in Lancaster County, according to the department of health. At the start of February, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) reported five measles cases in Lancaster County. Additional case in Lancaster County The total has now risen to six after a resident with a “known exposure to a confirmed case” developed illness while already in quarantine, DOH said.Because the person was quarantining before symptoms began, DOH said potential exposures outside the household are unlikely, and the department has remained in regular contact with those affected. Cases reported in PA The other two measles cases reported in Pennsylvania are in Montgomery County, according to the DOH. The department said there was also an additional case involving an out-of-state individual who visited Montgomery County. Measles vaccination The DOH said all eight cases reported in the state involve unvaccinated individuals. “Getting the measles vaccine is the best way for Pennsylvanians to protect themselves against measles,” the Pennsylvania Department of Health said. “Children should receive two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age.”The department noted that the measles vaccine is highly effective at preventing the disease. “Public health data shows that people who receive two doses of the vaccine see a 97% effective rate,” the DOH said. “Additionally, Commonwealth residents have a 94% MMR vaccination rate, which is likely to help limit the number of measles cases in Pennsylvania moving forward, compared to other states with lower vaccination rates.”Measles According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause severe illness and death. Complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis, especially in children under 5 and other high-risk groups. Measles can spread through the air from coughs or sneezes. The department said the virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. People can be contagious from four days before to four days after symptoms appear. Common symptoms High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit)CoughRunny noseRed, watery eyesRashFor more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website.See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.

Eight measles cases have been reported in Pennsylvania so far this year, six of which are in Lancaster County, according to the department of health.

At the start of February, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) reported five measles cases in Lancaster County.

Additional case in Lancaster County

The total has now risen to six after a resident with a “known exposure to a confirmed case” developed illness while already in quarantine, DOH said.

Because the person was quarantining before symptoms began, DOH said potential exposures outside the household are unlikely, and the department has remained in regular contact with those affected.

Cases reported in PA

The other two measles cases reported in Pennsylvania are in Montgomery County, according to the DOH.

The department said there was also an additional case involving an out-of-state individual who visited Montgomery County.

Measles vaccination

The DOH said all eight cases reported in the state involve unvaccinated individuals.

“Getting the measles vaccine is the best way for Pennsylvanians to protect themselves against measles,” the Pennsylvania Department of Health said. “Children should receive two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age.”

The department noted that the measles vaccine is highly effective at preventing the disease.

“Public health data shows that people who receive two doses of the vaccine see a 97% effective rate,” the DOH said. “Additionally, Commonwealth residents have a 94% MMR vaccination rate, which is likely to help limit the number of measles cases in Pennsylvania moving forward, compared to other states with lower vaccination rates.”

Measles

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause severe illness and death. Complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis, especially in children under 5 and other high-risk groups.

Measles can spread through the air from coughs or sneezes. The department said the virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. People can be contagious from four days before to four days after symptoms appear.

Common symptoms High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit)CoughRunny noseRed, watery eyesRash

For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website.

See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.